The ruling Awami League (AL) will have to further amend its constitution in line with the Representation of the People Order (RPO) as the Election Commission (EC) has declined to compromise on the issue with any political party.

In the run-up to BNP's national council, all eyes are focused on what position Tarique Rahman is about to get in the party, while its rank and file are mounting pressure on the leadership to create a whole new post just for him, said party insiders.

Bangladesh and India may sign two deals on the purchase of electricity from India and developing Bangladesh's railway and roads with Indian funding when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visits New Delhi this month.

Indian separatist group United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa has been taken to Delhi from Tripura where he surrendered to the security forces, report BBC News and Indian media.

Government schools in the capital will start selling admission forms tomorrow for the next academic year and forms will be available till December 17, said sources of Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE).

Editorial

THE Bangladesh Bank (BB)'s decision to set financial targets for the commercial banks in order to enhance their lending operation for the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector is commendable in view of the fact that it will go to ensure better use of the huge funds known to be lying idle with them. This renewed attention of the central bank towards this mostly labour-intensive sector will help stimulate the sector better and create employment.

THE emphasis that has been placed of late on improving traffic conditions in the city is surely welcome. It is a sign of how seriously the authorities, especially those in the traffic police department, are looking at the problem. And now that they have come up with plans for a three-lane based movement of vehicular traffic, all we can say is that we as citizens desperately hope the measure yields results. Indeed, that there should be different lanes on the roads is a given anywhere in the world. Unfortunately, in our instance, the idea of lanes, despite being there all the time, has not quite worked owing to a multiplicity of reasons. Such a condition cannot any more be permitted to continue, for reasons that should be obvious.

ONE with nine zeroes on the right looks quite tidy as a figure, but it gives an uneasy feeling when FAO says that the number of hungry people in the world has reached a historic high of more than one billion. FAO organised a three-day summit of the heads of states and governments in Rome from November 16 to 18 with a view to achieving its goal of eradicating global hunger by 2025.

In Bangladesh 156 million people live in an area of 143,998 sq.km, which means 1,083 persons per sq.km, or one person per square meter! In terms of population, Bangladesh is the 7th largest country in the world whereas in terms of GDP (PPT, Per Capita Income Parity) its position in the world is 196. About 45% of the population lives below the poverty line and each year natural calamities like devastating flood, cyclone, drought, etc. push millions of people below the poverty line. A big percentage of its 70.86 million labour is either unemployed or nominally employed. Under such a grim socio-economic condition what is the impact of remittances on the socio-economic development of Bangladesh?

I found a big difference between the perceptions in India and Pakistan on the anniversary of 26/11, the terror attack on Mumbai. India reconstructed the 60-hour tragedy and vowed not to "tolerate" any such act in the future. Pakistan said that it had expressed its horror adequately in the past and that by dwelling on it India was avoiding a composite dialogue. And there was a string of familiar accusations and counter-accusations. Sometimes I think that only a miracle can bring them close.

A brief synopsis of each side taking part in the 6th SAFF Championship in Dhaka between 4th to 13th December, 2009 is provided below. Since none of the teams are traditional heavyweights or frequent visitors to Bangladesh, this is a guide to help identify each team's players and status from a global standpoint. It will highlights each team's full squad list, their FIFA rankings, past performance in the Championships, their aspirations for this years tournament and their best player.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) finally got a sponsor for the ongoing Premier Division Cricket League in the middle of the competition as MM Ispahani came forward to sponsor the country's most coveted domestic tournament.

The weather took time to clear up and New Zealand took time to wake up, but by the end of a shortened, disrupted first day at what was the Basin Reserve's 50th Test, both had taken firm hold of this match.

Barcelona and their new Ballon D'Or victor Lionel Messi moved five points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the Spanish league with goals from Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic sealing a 2-0 win at Xerez on Wednesday.

Business

The telecom regulator has taken a move to connect Bangladesh with two more submarine cables through private sector initiative within one and a half years as internet-based services are often disrupted with the country's lone undersea cable.

The large volume of excess liquidity in the banking system could increase inflationary pressure in the economy unless it is utilised in productive economic activities, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) has observed.

Mutual Trust Bank Ltd got licence for offshore banking yesterday and will take part in financing Biman Bangladesh Airlines for purchasing aircraft under a syndicated loan arrangement, the managing director of the bank said.

Import- export trade through Benapole land port came to a halt in the morning yesterday, as Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) enforced Bandth (general strike) in Indian state West Bengal to protest the murder of a leader in Bongaon sub-division.

Federal Reserve Bank Chairman Ben Bernanke, who was scheduled to appear at a confirmation hearing Thursday for a second term, is a renowned expert on the Great Depression of the 1930s and is driven to avoid a repeat of such devastation.

Local Market FXLocal inter-bank FX market was active yesterday. There was adequate supply of dollar in the market. The USD/BDT rate traded at a slightly higher level compared with the previous working day.

Metropolitan

Social Welfare Secretary Quamrunnesa Khanam at a discussion yesterday called for a concerted action by the government and non-government organisations to empower persons with disabilities (PWDs) and protect their constitutional rights.

Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) has undertaken a project titled 'Shishu Nagori' (children's city) in different parts in the country aiming at making orphan street children aged 6-15 years self-reliant, says a press release.

Thirty-four years after the death of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Dhaka University authorities found a citation, crests and casket, which were meant to be handed over to Bangabandhu at a meeting with the students and teachers scheduled for August 15 in 1975.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Ameerah Haq of Bangladesh as his Special Representative for Timor-Leste and Head of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) to succeed Atul Khare of India.

Power and Energy Ministry yesterday recast the schedule of its planned Road Show to be held in three commercially important cities abroad to showcase investment opportunities and government's incentives for foreign investors.

Thirty-one women were killed and five women severely tortured for dowry while 15 women committed suicide being victim to eve-teasing or domestic violence or due to failure in love across the country during the month of November.

The National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Port will hold a mass campaign on the victory day on December 16, demanding a law be enacted banning export of mineral resources.

National

Indiscriminate extraction of earth from river Paira at Angaria point of Patuakhali and Dudhalmau point of Bakerganj upazila in Barisal by influential quarters has put Lebukhali ferry terminal and many nearby villages under the threat of erosion.

Over 27 hundred candidates of next SSC, HSC and equivalent examinations from 51 high schools, colleges and madrasas in Aila-hit Koira upazila of Khulna district have appealed to the government for exemption of their board fees.

Interns at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH) on Wednesday night called off their indefinite strike after a meeting with the hospital authorities and local leaders of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA).

A court in the port city yesterday issued arrest warrant against BNP lawmaker Salauddin Quader Chowdhury in a sedition case filed for delivering 'provocative' speech regarding August 15 and the historic verdict in Bangabandhu murder case.

A member of Rab-5 was seriously injured at around 2pm Wednesday in an attack by criminals when he went to recover arms from them in the guise of a buyer. Police and Rab sources said, Rab-5 detective branch member Kamal Hossain went to a spot at Dhanaidah village under Boraigram upazila. At one stage of bargain, illegal arms dealers Sajib, Rezaul, Barek and Don took the money but refused to hand over the arms. The also beat up Rab member Kamal and fled the scene. Rab-5 assistant director Anwar Hossain said drives are on to arrest the culprits.

Police yesterday morning recovered the body of an expatriate's wife from Sawdagor Bari in Paschim Lalpur village under Kabilpur union in Senbagh upazila. Police and locals said, Nazmun Nahar, 23, daughter of Qatar expatriate Mohin Uddin of the village was married to their neighbour Saudi expatriate Anwar Hossain Sohag about five years ago. Nahar had been staying in her father's residence for the last two years as she was suffering from cancer. On Wednesday night, she went to bed after dinner. But in the morning, her grand mother found her body hanging from a wooden beam of the bathroom. Sub-inspector (SI) Abu Yusuf of Senbagh police said, they recovered the body and sent it to hospital for postmortem.

Fire at Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital yesterday noon halted scheduled operations of the patients for a few hours. Resident Medical Officer (RMO) Dr. Sultanul Alam told this correspondent that the fire broke out in a switch board on the wall of operation theatre due to short circuit. Within 10 minutes it damaged the cables of the operation theatre badly. The incident delayed the scheduled operations of the patients, he said. On information, fire fighters rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control. Later, a three-member probe committee headed by senior consultant Dr. Partho Sharothi was formed to investigate the matter.

A woman was killed allegedly by her husband at Bhimpur village under Sadar upazila in Naogaon early yesterday. Victim Tahmina Khatun alias Khuki, 37, was wife of Abdus Salam, 45, and a mother of two children. Aminul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Sadar police station said, following an altercation with his wife at 1:30 am Salam stabbed her wife with a sharp knife killing her on the spot. The OC said Salam often pressed Khuki to sell her one and half bigha land. As she refused, Salam killed her and fled away. Victim's elder brother Sadekul Islam filed a case with Sadar police accusing Salam of murder.

A sex worker was murdered yesterday at a brothel at Romesh Sen Road in the town. The victim was identified as Meena alias Rita, 22. Police said, Rajib, the so-called husband of Rita assaulted her severely the previous night following an altercation over a trifling matter. Critically injured Rita was taken to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH) early yesterday but she succumbed to her injuries after some time. The body was sent to MMCH morgue for autopsy yesterday afternoon. There were marks of injuries on the body of the victim, said Sub-Inspector (SI) Abdul Mazid, also the Investigation Officer (IO) of the case.

Police arrested a teacher and a student of a madrasa for suspicious movement on Chittagong court building premises Wednesday afternoon. The arrestees are Habibur Rahman, 23, a teacher of JM Hat Noorpur Madrasa at Fulgazi upazila under Feni district and Mobarak Hossain, 23, a student of Hathazari Madrasa. Police arrested the two from police check-post at the court building at around 12.30pm. Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohiuddin Mahmud of Kotwali police station said the arrestees claimed that they went to the court building for a visit. Habibur is an ex-student of the Hathazari Madrasa and son of Ali Hossain of Kanthalia under Jhalakathi district and Mobarak is son of late Abdus Sobhan of Babupara under Lalmonirhat district, said the OC.

Ruanchhari police arrested two suspected tribal criminals from forest office area under the Sadar upazila on Wednesday. With the arrest of the two, a total of 22 suspected criminals were arrested from different places of the district in the last two months, police said. The arrestees are Sujan Chakma of Kalindipur, Rangamati and Khokan Chakma of Diginala, Khagrachhari. They are members of the newly formed Chittagong Hill Tracts National Forum (CHT-NF). They confessed to the police that they have been involved in abduction, extortion and various other crimes in the localities.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members arrested two people along with forged non-judicial stamp worth Tk 3 lakh at Hemayetpur yesterday morning. The arrestees are -- Tajul Islam, 50, and Kazi Keramat Ali, 35, of Comilla district. Acting on secret information, a Rab team arrested Tajul and Keramat with the forged stamps of different denominations.

Letters

I am very pleased to learn that for the first time the govt. has introduced Class-V final exams intending to improve the education standard in the country. This will definitely help to ensure quality education in our society. An NGO named Koinonia has been running an education programme named Tribal Children Education Programme with a total of 100 schools in 4 upazilas under Bandarban district since 2005. As this organisation is mainly involved with education programme, it has gained some knowledge/experience on the present status quo of education among the indigenous children in the remote areas. In light of the experience gained, I would like to share some of my views on the new rules of class- five final exams.

I am sending some important highlights from the book "Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis" written by Al Gore, released in the USA in November. This and other observations about climate change were published in the weekly "Newsweek' of November 9th. The highlights will be of interest to all concerned about the environmental issues. These are as follows:

I am indeed indebted to Mr Chisti of Lalmatia for his letter in DS 18 Nov on the subject supporting rickshaws. Before going in to details I would draw his attention to the letter “VIP roads” by Ameer Sobhan, a student of NSU in the adjoining column. Ameer has raised pertinent points in defense of the rickshaw in the circumstances prevailing TODAY that will partly answer some of Mr Chisti's fears. We will talk about the freeways, new roads, subways, metros, circular rails, waterways and other lollipops WHEN THEY ARE A REALITY, not before.

I am glad Tony Blair did not get the job. He had alienated a lot of British Muslims by the invasion of Iraq on falsified intelligence report and Labour lost the Tower Hamlets constituency (last Labour MP, Oona King) to George Galloway's Respect Party. Many European countries were against the candidacy of Blair although he was the most known name in the running. Blair's running generated mild xenophobia against Britain and the Belgian newspaper La Capitale just before the final selection printed a list of "10 reasons to hate Britain" widely covered in the British media.

As much as I talk to the Bangladeshis' at home and abroad, the signals they send out, reminds me of a common terminology (“whatever”) that Americans use a lot. This is a lingo that American teenagers use to express their sense of frustration, however the adults use it too, when they do not or can not make a sense of complicated or semi complicated issues. Most of the time Bangladeshis' frustration would be expressed as “the country is screwed up, I don't give a damn, let them do whatever they want, Allah is displeased with us etc”. Almost all the comments would send a signal of learned helplessness, hopelessness, sadness, irritability.

Commonwealth Scholarship is perhaps now the only important and prestigious scholarship available to our young scholars. It is therefore expected that great care would be taken in awarding this scholarship. It seems regrettable that the UGC this year has suddenly changed the prevailing rules of selecting the awardees from among the applicants, apparently ignoring the fact that there still exists two different systems of examination in the older public universities and there are significant differences between them.

The US-led war in Afghanistan bears ominous similarities to the disastrous Soviet war there 20 years ago, when a modern army was humbled by small guerrilla bands and the invaders struggled to prop up an unpopular government in Kabul.

Pakistan-based LeT's operations chief and Mumbai attacks mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi yesterday failed to get any reprieve from the Lahore High Court, which disposed of his two petitions challenging his indictment for involvement in the 26/11 strikes.

Arts & Entertainment

Liberation War, Language Movement and the eternal beauty of Bangladesh are the major themes at the upcoming exhibition of Biren Shome. Shome is one of the noted painters of the '60s who has been consistently maintaining a significant role in the contemporary Bangladeshi art scene. Throughout his chequered career, the artist has worked on varied themes, portraying them in his personal style and technique. His themes have always been closely connected to the soil of Bengal and its people. His works plunge deep into assortment of forms like abstract, pure-abstract, realistic and semi-realistic.

On the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr in November 1971, when the artistes of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra saw the moon, they all became emotional. As veteran singer Ajit Roy reminisced, "With due respect for the religion, nobody was in a mood to celebrate Eid, when people were in pain and agony. Lyricist Shahidul Islam wrote a song 'Chand tumi phirey jao' and Rupa Khan sang it. Everyone shared this sentiment. I composed the tune of the song."

Meril Revive is a brand of Square Toiletries for women who are always on the go. For these women who want to make it on their own, attain professional efficiency and have it all, spending a lot of time on make up is not an option. Meril Revive has come to their rescue, providing them with an easy option to look and feel good.

OP-ED

THE last of the five rounds of negotiations on climate change since Cop-14 in December 2008 ended in November in Barcelona. The outcome differs in no substantive manner from the previous rounds. Perhaps Barcelona witnessed the highest number of non-papers, which are in-session documents issued informally. The decision to carry some of these non-papers to Copenhagen for consideration, without adopting any substantive decision is symptomatic of lack of any progress. The expectation is a new deal, particularly on mitigating climate change. Judging by the outcomes of the eight negotiations since adoption of the Bali Action Plan in December 2007, the prospect looks bleak.

THERE was a fundamental decency in Nurul Islam. And it was there because of the dignity, the sense of self-esteem, which defined his personality. He was a politician in the very real sense of the meaning, which is as much as to say that he was a reminder of the values we once lived by. As one of the foremost of spokesmen for the toiling classes, he was second to none. There was the authoritative about him. There was nothing of the authoritarian you could spot in his long career in the political circuit. He was a bold individual to whom the idea of power was essentially the idea of trust. Politics, in that very broad way of looking at it, was a responsibility that brought the state and its citizens together, through the formulation of social welfare programmes and then pushing them on to fulfillment. It was never about seeking or winning office.

StarTech

Computer businessmen of Bangladesh tend to call it a 'Year of Notebook' with growing popularity of the small computers. They noted 30 percent rise in sale of this type of computers this year. The trend was growing as youths the home users in particular were looking to the latest technology.

Speed of execution, teamwork and technology these three are the Hewlett-Packard's (HP) winning formula. The company also serves the customers with products developed in environmentally responsible manner, said the speaker at Grand Reseller Meet and Top Achievers' Award Ceremony, recently held in Dhaka, says a press release. More than 200 HP resellers and renowned information technology personnel of the country took part in the ceremony.